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NAICJA’s 43rd Annual Meeting & National Tribal Judicial and Court Clerks Conference

Oct. 19, 2012

Tribal Court Funding & Technical Assistance Opportunities

This presentation stems from a TLPI-provided March 2, 2012 Webinar:

Funding Opportunities for Tribal Wellness Courts

Focused on FY 2012 CTAS RFP and BJA Adult Drug Courts RFPs

Audio and Full PPTs available through www.TLPI.orgTLPI anticipates providing similar webinar(s) in 2013

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TLPI has a multitude of resources available for tribal justice systems, including specifically for

• Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts, and

- Tribal-State-Federal Collaboration

See the Tribal Court Clearinghouse at

www.tlpi.org

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Tribal Court Clearinghousewww.tlpi.org

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TLPI Publications

Tribal Healing to Wellness Court Publications include,Preliminary Overview (1999, update forthcoming 2013)Tribal 10 Key Components (2003, update forthcoming 2013)Judge’s Bench Book (forthcoming 2013)Program Development Guide (forthcoming 2013)’Treatment Guidelines

Promising Practices

(forthcoming 2013)

Textbooks – to be mailed to every tribal

courtTribal Constitutions – forthcoming

2013Tribal Codes – forthcoming 2014

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(NRC4Tribes) has joined the Children’s Bureau Training and

Technical Assistance (T/TA) Network to provide and broker

training and technical assistance to support the

enhancement of Tribal child welfare systems.

www.NRC4Tribes.org

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BJA Adult Drug Court RFPs (including Joint BJA/SAHMSA RFP): PROs and CONs

A few PROs for Tribal Healing to Wellness Court Funding under BJA Adult Drug Court RFPs:

A few CONs for Tribal Healing to Wellness Court Funding under BJA Adult Drug Court RFPs:

• Drug court specific RFP/funding source 25% match requirement

• Specific reference to Tribal Wellness Courts Not tribal specific RFPs

• Peer reviewers will have substantial drug court specific knowledge

Tribes have to compete with state drug courts under these RFPs

• In recent years, at least 5 tribes per year have received funding under the general BJA Adult Drug Court RFP

No guarantee that any Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts will be funded under these RFPs

• More grant awards under general BJA Adult Drug Court RFP than under any other drug court specific RFP (such as OJJDP and SAHMSA RFPs)

Violent Offender Prohibition

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BJA Drug Court RFPs:Common Problems with Tribal Applications

Not providing all requested information Not providing the requested information in relevant section where peer reviewers could

easily locate it Failed to draw adequate connection between problems identified in “statement of the

problem” section and solutions proposed in “Program Design and Implementation” section

Does not demonstrate adequate understanding of drug court concepts Inconsistencies within proposal - different writers by section Does not address all 10 key components Copied key components but did not adequately explain how they were going to

implement or apply each component (who, what, why, where, when, and how) Did not provide specific measurable targets for performance measures Did not provide adequate sustainability info (only “we will apply for more funds” or “we

have a good grant writer”) or address sustainability beyond $$$ alone Failure to adequately link programmatic activities with budget items

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CTAS (Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation)

The Department of Justice launched CTAS in Fiscal Year 2010 in direct response to concerns raised by Tribal leaders about the Department’s grant process that did not provide the flexibility tribes needed to address their criminal justice and public safety needs. Through CTAS, federally-recognized Tribes and Tribal consortia are able to submit a single application for most of the Justice Department’s Tribal grant programs. The Department of Justice designed this comprehensive approach to save time and resources and allow tribes and the Department to gain a better understanding of the Tribes’ overall public safety needs.

For more information on CTAS – see www.justice.gov/tribal and www.justice.gov/tribal/open-sol.html Application Due Date: April 18, 2012

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CTAS: Application TimelineFY 2012 CTAS Purpose Areas

FY 2012 Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation Purpose Areas

1. Public safety and community policing (COPS Tribal Resources Hiring Grant Program and Tribal Resources Grant Equipment/Training)2. Comprehensive Planning Demonstration Project

3. Justice systems, and alcohol and substance abuse (OJP/BJA—Tribal Courts Assistance Program and Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Program)4. Corrections and correctional alternatives (OJP/BJA—Correctional Systems and Correctional Alternatives on Tribal Lands Program)5. Violence Against Women (OVW Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program TSASP)‐ ‐

6. Violence Against Women (OVW—Tribal Governments Program – Tribal Governments Program)

7. Victims of Crime (OJP/OVC—Children’s Justice Act Partnerships for Indian Communities)

8. Victims of Crime (OJP/OVC Comprehensive Tribal Victim Assistance Program),‐

9. Juvenile Justice (OJP/OJJDP—Tribal Juvenile Accountability Discretionary Program)

10. Tribal Youth Program (OJP/OJJDP—Tribal Youth Program – TYP)

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CTAS Purpose Area #3: Justice Systems and Alcohol and Substance Abuse

(BJA)

Purpose Areas #3:

Justice Systems, and Alcohol and Substance Abuse Tribal Courts Assistance Program (TCAP)

Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Program (IASA)

BJA Point of Contact:

Trish Thackston: (202) 307-0581 m.patricia.thackston@usdoj.gov

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CTAS Purpose Area #3 Narrative Template

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CTAS Purpose Area #3 Narrative Template

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CTAS Purpose Area #9:TJADG (OJJDP/OJP)

Purpose Area #9: Juvenile Justice Tribal Juvenile Accountability Discretionary Program

(TJADG)

OJJDP Points of Contact:

Patrick Dunckhorst: (202) 514-4158 Patrick.Dunckhorst@usdoj.gov Kara McDonagh: (202) 305-1456 Kara.McDonagh@usdoj.gov

*Specific budget requirements apply including 10% match- see pages 24-25 of CTAS RFP

Purpose Area Estimated Amount of Funding Available

Estimated Number of Awards to be Made; Estimated Award Amounts

Length of Award

9) Juvenile Justice (OJP)

Under $1.0 million Estimated 2-3 awards; approximately $250,000-$300,000

3years

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CTAS Project Area #10:OJJDP Tribal Youth Program (TYP)

Purpose Area #10: Tribal Youth Program (TYP)

OJJDP Points of Contact:

Patrick Dunckhorst: (202) 514-4158 Patrick.Dunckhorst@usdoj.gov Kara McDonagh: (202) 305-1456 Kara.McDonagh@usdoj.gov

Purpose Area Estimated Amount of Funding Available

Estimated Number of Awards to be Made; Estimated Award Amounts

Length of Award

10) Tribal Youth Program $8 million Estimated 12-15 awards; Approximately $300,000-$500,000 per award

3 years

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CTAS RFP: Pros and Cons

A few PROs for Tribal Healing to Wellness Court Funding under CTAS RFP: More time to prepare application – the due date is not until April 18, 2012 Tribal specific RFP/funding source Specific references to Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts in purpose areas #3, 9, and 10 Peer reviewers will have tribal court specific knowledge Under BJA purpose area #3 (TCAP/IASAP), there is substantial funding ($16.8 million) and many grant

awards annually (approximately 25-35 awards; approximately $250,000-$750,000 per award; 3 year project period)

Under OJJDP purpose area #10 (Tribal Youth Program), there is substantial funding ($8 million) and many grant awards annually (approximately 12-15 awards; approximately $300,000-$500,000 per award; 3 year project period)

Potentially more flexibility to design a Tribal Healing to Wellness Court to meet the specific needs of an individual community ( for example - Violent Offender Prohibition does not apply to CTAS and program design not as specifically required to adhere to the drug court key components)

No match requirement Tribal Healing to Wellness Court objectives can be better incorporated into an overall tribal plan through

CTAS Most tribes are already planning to submit CTAS proposal – so a Tribal Healing to Wellness Court proposal

could simply be added to the overall Tribal CTAS proposal (that is, stand-alone Tribal Healing to Wellness Court proposal not required)

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CTAS RFP: Pros and Cons

A few CONs for Tribal Healing to Wellness Court Funding under CTAS RFP:

Not a Tribal Healing to Wellness Court specific RFP/Solicitation

Peer reviewers may not have adequate drug court specific knowledge

Since each CTAS purpose area incorporates a very wide range of possible projects and programs in addition to Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts, there will likely be a great deal of competition with each tribe and tribal court concerning which possible programs to include in the tribe’s CTAS application

Very complex CTAS application process with many moving parts requiring substantial intra-tribal coordination especially within larger tribes

The page and format limitations of CTAS may not provide enough space to adequately describe a project as complex as a Tribal Wellness Courts – especially if other programs are included in a tribe’s specific purpose area proposal

No guarantee that any Tribal Wellness Courts would be funded under CTAS RFP/Solicitation

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Common CTAS Problems: Biggest Reasons for Unsuccessful CTAS Applications Overall

Not responding to all of the requested information

Failed to draw connection between pressing problems identified in the “tribal community and justice profile” and programmatic activities proposed in the “purpose area narrative.”

Not providing the requested information in relevant section where peer reviewers could easily locate it

Failed to draw the connection between the proposed budget and the programmatic activities requested in the “purpose area narrative.”

Inconsistencies within proposal - different writers by section

Did not provide specific measurable targets for performance measures

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Tips for Submitting a CTAS Proposal

1. Read the Solicitation. Read entire solicitation and follow all instructions carefully. No detail is too small and no instruction should be ignored. Be sure to respond to all questions and requirements in the solicitation.

2. Check all of the resources available through the Online CTAS website. Many required forms – such as the vital narrative questions by purpose area – are only available through online CTAS website.

3. Don’t wait until the deadline to apply! Avoid connection issues with the Internet or the Grants Management System (GMS) and apply early. GMS runs slowly on the deadline day because of increased website traffic. Apply at least 72 hours before the deadline!

4. Go back and review the “tribal community and justice profile” after completing the purpose area narratives: Make changes as needed to ensure that the connection is clearly drawn between pressing problems identified in “tribal community and justice profile” and programmatic activities requested in “purpose area narrative.”

5. Go back and review the budget after completing the purpose area narratives: Make changes as needed to ensure that the connection is clearly drawn between proposed budget and programmatic activities requested in the “purpose area narrative.”

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Tips for Submitting a CTAS Proposal

1. Contact the relevant agency/personnel if you have any questions about the solicitation, eligibility or purpose areas.

2. Submit a single application for each Tribe. The Tribe’s single application should request funding from all available DOJ Tribal government-specific grant programs, according to the Tribes’ needs.

3. Include all required documents listed in the checklist by the deadline.4. Complete a budget that justifies what the application is proposing for each

Proposal Area requested.5. Include additional documents as required by each Purpose Area!6. Follow Directions! Pay close attention to formatting, file name, spacing,

margins, and page length requirements.

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General Approach to Federal Grants

1. Plan Ahead – Do Not Wait until the RFP is out2. Regular Annual Rhythm/Pattern for most Federal

Grants(RFP in January-April with Grant Award not until September)

3. Contact Agency Grant Managers4. Contact Tribal Technical Assistance (TA) Providers5. Review Online Resources and Prior Proposals6. Serve as Peer Reviewer (or at least Mock Peer Review

Exercise)7. Register on Grants.gov and GMS well ahead

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If You Have Applied Unsuccessfully:

Always ask Agency to provide you with strengths and weaknesses comments

Keep prior proposals & comments (although different review panel each time)

Ask Agency what other services can be provided such as:

Training and Technical Assistance (T/TA) without grant Capacity Building Scholarships for Conferences/Trainings

Ask Agency who was funded and for copies of successful applications

Ask Agency for TA Provider contact information

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Request for Proposal (RFP) Questions/Issues

Contact Agency contact person listed on RFP Document any information / advice from Agency (email

confirmations) Where applicable, footnote relevant information / advice

from Agency in proposal itself so that peer reviews are informed

Ask for TA Provider contact information and contact TA Provider

Ask for samples / templates and / or successful applications Ask if Agency provides TA for potential applicants Ask about the odds of funding by program:

How many usually apply How many are usually funded

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Tips for Writing Grants

Focus on deadline and any necessary attachments (tribal resolutions, support letters)

Focus on scoring criteria (think of it as a checklist because it is)

Use scoring criteria as a general guide for how many pages you devote to each section

Always answer every question / address every issue

Use all available pages

Utilize attachments if at all possible (timeline, support letters, etc.)

Follow all format directions (such as labeling sections/page numbering)

Make it easy for the reviewer to read and score

Have staff internally review and score

Always PDF everything

Always label clearly

Do something different, interesting, and replicable